This is a song that resembles us. Why Johnny Hallyday only interests French speakers

If for French song, he remains the leader with an unequalled status, Johnny Hallyday was not listened to much abroad. Perhaps he was too American…

In partnership with the exhibition It’s a song that resembles us – Worldwide hits of French-language popular music At the Cité internationale de la langue française in Villers-Cotterêts, these chronicles look in detail at each of the stories presented there.

Among the songs of French supporters of the Paris 2024 Games, there were That I love you. And, in the stands, it was necessary to explain to the Australian, Japanese, or Norwegian neighbors who Johnny Hallyday was – our Johnny. The only artist in our popular culture to have reached this level of glory and – let’s say it – recognition from the Republic.

But as soon as we cross the borders of the French-speaking world and address people under 50 or 60, he is virtually unknown.

Yet he took the trouble…

In this episode of It’s a song that resembles usyou hear excerpts from:

Sound and audience at Club France, Paris 2024 Olympic Games

Johnny Hallyday, How much do you love, 1969

Johnny Hallyday and Sylvie Vartan, Old but the fur mich noch nicht die big liebe, 1973

Johnny Hallyday, Altin Yusuk, 1967

Johnny Hallyday, I Wanna Made Love to You, 1994

Johnny Hallyday, Blue Suede Shoes, 1996

Rocky Roberts, Hold my butt, 1967

Adriano Celentano, Prisencolinensinainciusol, 1975

Udo Jürgens, It’s not good for me, 1966

Raphael, Little by little, 1966

Johnny Hallyday, That I love you, 1969

You can also extend this column with the book It’s a song that resembles us published by Heritage Publishing.

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